B.W. COOK -- The Look

When asked to name their favorite store, six young women who gathered

by the pool at Newport Harbor High School to model their best

back-to-school fashion all responded in unison and without prompting,

“the Gap.”

One of the models, Katherine Belden of Lido Isle, a junior at Newport

Harbor High, added, “I also like J. Crew.”

Yet another student chimed in, “We also like the surf shops such as

Urban Outfitters.”

Katie Erickson, a petite freshman with enough energy to electrify all

of Costa Mesa on her own, shared her manner of dressing each morning.

“I just kind of wake up and choose what I want to wear.”

As far as fashion blunders go...

“I never wear navy blue with black. Ugh. That should be illegal,”

added Erickson, as her fellow models agreed with another unified “yuck.”

And what do they like to see the young men they go to school with

wearing?

“Aberchrombie and Fitch will do. We like nice preppie clothes. No

sagging pants allowed,” was the consensus.

And who said young people don’t know how to dress? We asked each of

our models to show us her favorite back-to-school outfit.

The six models from Newport Harbor High School are Katherine Belden,

junior, Newport Beach; Annie Wight, sophomore, Newport Beach; Katie

Erickson, freshman, Costa Mesa; Paige Lansing, sophomore, Newport Beach;

Jenna Murphy, sophomore, Newport Beach; and Ashley Parole, sophomore,

Costa Mesa.

Caption One

Katherine Belden chose a blue-and-pink flowered skirt from the Gap

($24.99) worn with a hot pink, rhinestone-studded halter, also from the

Gap ($18.50).

Caption Two

Annie Wight wears a skirt known as the “Calme,” ($43) and a shirt

known as “Sparkle”($19), both from Urban Outfitters.

Caption Three

Katie Erickson shows off a zip-up skirt by Split ($49.99) and

available at Beach Access. Her shirt is by Express ($19.50) and the shoes

are by Skechers from Anchor Blue ($25).

Caption Four

Paige Lansing wears a Gap top, priced on sale at $6.99, with a skirt

by Volcom ($34) and Reef Shoes ($28).

Caption Five

Jenna Murphy also wears Gap. The pants ($48) and the shirt ($28) are

required high school fashion attire for 2000-01. Jenna’s shoes are Roxy

Quiksilver, priced at $43.

Caption Six

Ashley Parole has the look for fall, wearing pure Banana Republic. Her

top is priced at $22 and the pants are $70. The shoes are called Two Lips

from Nordstrom’s. They sell for $50.